Audiencia Nacional

The Audiencia Nacional is a high court in Spain that handles serious criminal cases, including terrorism, drug trafficking, financial crimes, and offenses with international implications. It operates at the national level, possessing jurisdiction over cases that transcend regional boundaries or involve international actors. Recently, the Audiencia Nacional has been in the news regarding several high-profile cases. One involves a sexual assault complaint against Julio Iglesias, which prosecutors ultimately shelved, citing a lack of jurisdiction because the alleged offenses occurred outside of Spain. Another case concerns the use of Pegasus spyware to target Spanish officials. The court has repeatedly shelved this investigation due to a lack of cooperation from Israeli authorities. These cases highlight the Audiencia Nacional's role in addressing complex legal issues with international dimensions and the challenges it faces when dealing with cross-border investigations and jurisdictional limitations.